Addresses

(Sacramento) - In this Democratic weekly address,Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) andAssemblymember Pedro Nava (D-Santa Barbara) discuss a report released by the Natural Resources Defense Council last week showing U.S. beaches recently experienced their fourth highest amount of closures due to pollution in the 19-year history of the report.They say Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger'sveto offunding for beach pollution monitoring has led topollution advisories not being issued until days after dangerous exposure has occurred.

Last week – during another warm summer here inCalifornia – the annual report on the health of our nation’s beach water, put together by the National Resource Defense Council, was released with startling findings.

Due to pollution, beach closings and health advisories have hit their fourth highest level in the 19-year history of the report.

While this report observes conditions at 3,500 beaches across the nation, deterioration of beach health in California is particularly troubling.

The access Californians enjoy to the ocean along our world famous coastline can bring vulnerable children, older Americans, pregnant women and others in contact with dangerous pollutants.

California’s beaches also attract millions of tourists—many Californians pursuing “staycations” here at home in these tough times but also many out-of-state visitors spending time and dollars here as well - all contributing greatly to our economy.

A threat to our beaches is a threat to our economy, so we need to stop this disturbing trend in its tracks.

In order to better detect contamination, we need to implement faster, more accurate and timely beach water testing methods.

Current testing methods provide information that is already at least a day out-of-date by the time the beach is reported “unsafe.”

Governor Schwarzenegger did not improve the situation when he vetoed beach monitoring funding last year.

And his vetoes last week, which will close 50 additional state parks, does not bode well for the health of our state beaches.

Legislative Democrats understand the health of our beaches is directly related to the health ofCalifornia families who visit them and the health of California’s economy.

This summer it’s important to remember maintaining the health and safety of California’s beaches is a crucial investment for our state’s future—even in these tough times.